In Part 1, we introduced the overall scarcity of buyers at the recent Nexpo, and some of items of conventional wisdom that were making their way around the show floor.  In this second part of our show analysis, we'd like to comment on specific products of interest that we found helpful and interesting in meeting those conventional wisdoms. As usual, we do not intend to discuss each in detail, just to present their utility.  The vendors will be happy to go further with our readers, we're sure, if you ask nicely.

1.  Polka Dots:  Workflow costs!  At Nexpo, PolkaDots software, Inc. introduced a CtP Workflow Introductory bundle for $9,995.  This software is a 2-up or 4-up version of their complete Queue-based Client Server Database driven file management system.  It includes automatic pre-flighting, auto fix and soft proofing features.  Files are accessed via a web browser for full resolution viewing and collaborative annotations at lightening speeds.    This software, Newspaper ready to handle broadsheet or tabloid page pairing, is a full solution; the only software that a newspaper needs to go from text file applications into page oriented hot folders to the output of full page CtP.  The surprise is the price: $9,995 is all that a newspaper needs to et into CtP, that is, besides the device itself.

2. Saxotech and Kodak MicroZone Publishing; new methodologies to structure the profitable newspaper of the present: